All About Balkans Small Group
12 Days Starting in Sofia and ending in Athens
Visiting: Sofia, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Mostar, Trebinje, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Budva, Tirana, Ohrid, Skopje, Thessaloniki, Kalambaka, Meteora, Delphi, Athens
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BLASG
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 12
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
18 - 59 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Travelling with a group of no more than 12 people, our new Small Group trips provide you with more space for your comfort and pleasure. Join on a discovery of the iconic cities and impressive highlights of the Balkans. Get to discover Sofia, Skopje, Belgrade, Sarajevo and Tirana. Roam the ever-popular and lively Croatian coast while craving the calming serenity and charm of Albania and Montenegro. Chase Alexander the Great from Macedonia to Greece and uncover the mysteries of floating monasteries of Meteora. Above all, touch shoulders with countless Balkan civilizations as you witness their beautiful interaction and create lifelong travel memories.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Sofia
Location: Sofia
Accommodation: Hotel, Vega - 4 Star
Welcome to Sofia! At the airport, keep an eye out for the Travel Talk sign for your transfer to the hotel. At the hotel around 7pm, have an informal welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. After you get all the critical information about the tour, head out for our optional group dinner around 8:15pm and walk the streets of Sofia.
Included Activities
Welcome Meeting
Optional Activities
Group Dinner
Day 2 : Sofia, Belgrade
Location: Sofia, Belgrade
Accommodation: Hotel, Abba - 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a substantial breakfast, hop on the bus and make your way to the Serbian capital, Belgrade. With stunning views over the Danube and Sava rivers by the mighty medieval Belgrade Fortress, head to the heart of the capitol. Starting off at the vibrant pretty shopping street, Knez Mihailova, filled with cafes, shops and charming sites, kick off the walking tour to discover the incredible landmarks Belgrade has in store and their marvellous histories.
Included Activities
Belgrade City Tour
Day 3 : Belgrade, Sarajevo
Location: Belgrade, Sarajevo
Accommodation: Hotel, Ibis Styles – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Next stop Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, the city that has been through it all! It is where the Western and Eastern Roman Empire split and where people of many nations and religions met, lived and warred. You can still see many reminders of the Yugoslav War in bullet holes and cannon marks all around town. Though, still an oriental beauty with a unique twist, and a delight to discover on your walking tour in the old town. The city offers endless delicacies to taste, but the specialty is lamb.
Included Activities
Sarajevo City Tour
Entrance Fees
Catholic Church - EUR 1
Day 4 : Sarajevo, Mostar,Trebinje
Location: Sarajevo, Mostar, Trebinje
Accommodation: Hotel, Central Park – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we drive for the amazing Adriatic shore, but first a stop at Mostar! As you arrive in this dreamland, walk through the Old Town of this Herzegovina pearl, see the iconic highlights Old Bridge – Stari Most, and the old čaršija (market). Enjoy your lunch with an amazing view at one of the local venues, discover the old town and make sure to try the delicious Turkish coffee. In the afternoon, we ride to Trebinje for our overnight stay.
Included Activities
Mostar City Tour
Optional Activities
Kravice Waterfalls - EUR 20
Day 5 : Trebinje, Dubrovnik, Trebinje
Location: Trebinje, Dubrovnik, Trebinje
Accommodation: Hotel, Central Park – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get ready for a long day at Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic"! With its well-preserved majestic walls encircling the whole town and its sea of terra-cotta roof tiles, giving life to the "King’s Landing", the whole town is an amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even the drive down to town from the mountain-side is a breakth-taking highlight in itself! We start off with a guided walking tour of the Old Town and marvel at the millennial history of this fairy-like town. Walk atop the mighty walls, discover cute narrow streets, taste delicious seafood or jump off into the crystal-blue waters. In the evening, we return to Trebinje for a good night's rest.
Included Activities
Dubrovnik City Tour
Optional Activities
Dubrovnik Boat Trip - EUR 35
Entrance Fees
Dubronvnik City Walls - EUR 15
Day 6 : Trebinje, Kotor, Budva
Location: Trebinje, Kotor, Budva
Accommodation: Hotel, Park – 3 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Next stop Montenegro! Arrive in Kotor after a scenic drive an meet its calming natural beauty and characteristic architecture, a less-crowded version of Dubrovnik with its impressive medieval citadel. Following a walking tour of the old town with your expert local guide and some free time, make your way to the popular touristic hub of the region, Budva. Your guide will take you on a brief walking tour of the vibrant summer town with great food, impressive views and lively nightlife.
Included Activities
Kotor City Tour
Budva Walking Tour
Day 7 : Budva, Tirana, Ohrid
Location: Budva, Tirana, Ohrid
Accommodation: Hotel, Sileks – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Hit the road after breakfast, next stop Albania! A panoramic city tour of Tirana will introduce the best preserved and most beautiful samples of Albanian architecture, and drop us off at the town centre for some free time to discover the bustling Skenderbeg square. In the afternoon, continue towards Ohrid, Macedonia and check-in to your comfy hotel. You can rest up after a long day, or join the optional Balkan night with dinner.
Included Activities
Panoramic Tour of Tirana
Ohrid Walking Tour
Optional Activities
Balkan Night With Dinner - EUR 25
Day 8 : Ohrid, Skopje
Location: Ohrid, Skopje
Accommodation: Hotel, Panoramika – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
start off the day with a guided city tour of Old Ohrid hosting hundreds of chapels and churches scattered all around. In the afternoon travel to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, for the night.
Included Activities
Ohrid City Tour
Optional Activities
St.
Naum Tour - EUR 15
Day 9 : Skopje, Thessaloniki
Location: Skopje, Thessaloniki
Accommodation: Hotel, ABC – 3 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Prepare to discover the beautiful Skopje with a guided sightseeing tour filled with stunning architecture, grand monuments and unique history. Pose with the famous statue of Alexander the Great or walk through the Macedonian Arc de Triumph. The city has countless landmarks and a vibrant street life with many cafes and bars around. In the afternoon cross the border heading towards the second largest Greek city, Thessaloniki, for the night.
Included Activities
Skopje City Tour
Day 10 : Kalambaka, Meteora, Delphi
Location: Kalambaka, Meteora, Delphi
Accommodation: Hotel, Hermes - 3 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Starting off the day with a panoramic Thessaloniki tour on the bus, depart for Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteora. Meteora is famous for its breath-taking scenery and ageless monasteries, almost suspended between the earth and sky. The town hosts one of the largest and steepest complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, literally named as “middle of the sky”. The World Heritage-listed site is out-of-this-world with its unique landscape of immense monolithic pillars and huge rounded boulders hosting monasteries on top, and one of the most visited locations in Greece. Each monastery has a central courtyard surrounded by chapels and living cells of monks, who have inhabited the region since the 11th century – for far less than the first inhabitants from 50,000 years ago. Later in the afternoon, hop on the bus for Delphi.
Included Activities
Meteora Tour
Day 11 : Delphi, Athens
Location: Delphi, Athens
Accommodation: Hotel, Arion - 3 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Eat up at breakfast, you will be discovering Delphi and all its wonders. Built high atop the cliffs with spectacular scenery, the town made its name in ancient Greek mythology. Chosen as the centre of the earth, here is where the famous powerful Oracles of Delphi resided. UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delphi had a tremendous influence in the ancient world, uniting many city-states under the Hellenic spirit as displayed in rich monuments and ancient stories. In the afternoon, embark on a scenic drive to Athens. As you get your bearings and all the information you need about the capital from your guide, arrive at the hotel to freshen up. Prepare to cap off the amazing tour Greek-style; bring in the mezes, it’s time to do some Sirtaki!
Included Activities
Delphi Tour
Day 12 : Athens
Location: Athens
Meals Included: Breakfast
Have your final breakfast on us and start bidding farewells to your travel mates before checking out of the hotel (11:00). Time to start counting days for your next adventure with Travel Talk!
What's Included
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Accommodation
3 & 4 star hotels
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Meals
11 breakfasts
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Transportation
Air-conditioned non-smoking coach or mini-bus
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Airport Transfer
From Sofia Airport (on day 1)
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Guide
Services of experienced Travel Talk local guides licenced by the Ministry of Tourism
What's Not Included
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Any flights
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Travel insurance
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Meals not stated in the itinerary
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Items of a personal nature
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Tips & gestures
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Visa fees
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Entrance fees to the sights and museums
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Optional activities
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Other services not stated in the itinerary
Add Ons
Local Payment: £0
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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What is the maximum group size?
12
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No passenger under the age of 18
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
There are always single travellers on our tours. If you don't mind being roomed with another single traveller of the same gender, then you do not need to pay a single supplement, however, this excludes all of our North American tours where the sharing option for a solo traveller is not available, and the single supplement must be applied if you are travelling alone. The single supplement is for travellers who would like to stay in a private room for the duration of the tour. PLEASE NOTE: The single private option is not always available, especially for sailing tours and camping.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Our tours are suitable for any traveller above 18 years old. The majority of Travel Talkers are from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada or Europe, however we always have travellers from all over the world. What brings them together is a passion for travel, discovering authentic cultures and experiencing unique adventures with like-minded travellers.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Travel Talk, we believe that travel is a force for good and show our support through various initiatives and charity organizations, as well as keeping the principals of responsible and sustainable travel at the core of our ethos. These values are engrained in our business culture and the design of our trips just the same. Together with our guests, we strive to make a positive impact on local p
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 20 years
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Travel Talk Tours allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 61 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Travel Talk Tours requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of travel talk tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 85% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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